Elena smacks her fiancé's arm. "It's not Arden's fault Reese never told her getting stuffed means having sex. You Brits have a responsibility to educate Americans in your bizarre language."
Okay, at least I now understand what Chance meant. And yes, Reese and I agreed to act like mature adults and tell Chance and Elena we're sleeping together. We broke the news as soon as we saw them. They've been much cooler about it than I expected, but I guess they finally realized Reese and I are old enough to make our own decisions.
The limo has two bench seats, so Reese and I sit on one side while Chance, Elena, and Grams sit on the other. Granddad went to Stockbridge to collect my parents, and the three of them are already here in New Hampshire.
"Whatever you want to call it," Chance says, "I don't want to hear my brother and his girlfriend doing it."
"Jealous, are you?" Reese says. "I've been declared to be the best lover on earth, so you're right to feel inferior."
"Who declared you're the best? That sounds like a rigged contest."
I raise my hand again. "Me. I told him that."
Elena rolls her gaze toward the roof and shakes her head, though it's sarcasm rather than annoyance. "Oh please, like you're an expert."
"Tell you what," I say, leaning forward to give her my best look of mock seriousness, "I'll let you have sex with Reese so you can find out for yourself."
Reese grins.
Chance throws an arm around Elena and pulls her against him. "My fiancé is not having sex with anyone else. But I'll get a leg over with Arden to prove her wrong about my brother."
Reese scowls, and I don't think it's sarcasm. "No, you will not."
"Not grinning anymore, are you?" Chance says to his brother---with a smug smile on his face. "Calm down, Reese. I don't want to steal your girlfriend. Elena's all I need."
Chance kisses Elena's cheek.
Reese hugs me to him for the rest of the car ride.
We get to relax for about an hour, lying in bed watching true crime shows because, apparently, that's the only channel our TV will let us watch. After that, I go with Elena to the dress shop where she bought her wedding gown so she can have the final fitting. She wants my advice about the veil---to wear one or not to wear one, how long should it be, et cetera---and I offer my opinions. Honestly, I think she wanted me here only because she's nervous. She adores Chance, but getting married is a big deal.
And she misses her mom. I know she does. Elena's mom passed away years ago, but not having her around for the wedding is hard. Maybe a best friend isn't a substitute for a mother, but I do my best to make this special for my best friend and to fill in for what Elena's lost. Her dad left when she was little, so her only family is Kyle. My dad will give Elena away during the ceremony because my parents love her like she's their daughter.
While I'm with Elena, Reese is with his brothers. Chance doesn't want a bachelor party, and Elena doesn't want a bachelorette party, so the groom is hanging out with his brothers and Kyle Linwood. They have a good time, based on how much those guys are smiling when Elena and I meet up with them.
That night, Reese and I have our own kind of fun. He teaches me more about sex, and every lesson ends with me shouting his name. He hasn't taught me what I really want to know. In fact, he seems embarrassed every time I ask him about oral sex. He's not at all shy about that when he's giving it to me, but he doesn't want to talk about how I could do the same for him. Guys are so weird.
The next day, we head to the wedding rehearsal. Dane is Chance's best man, and I get the feeling Reese is a little hurt by that. Reese will stand at the altar with his brothers, but he wasn't chosen to be best man. I'm Elena's maid of honor, but she doesn't have any other bridesmaids, so nobody's jealous of me.
Later, we all head to a restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.
I manage to get a few seconds alone with Chance and Elena, so I tell them I think Reese feels spurned. Maybe I shouldn't tell them that, but I can't imagine Chance wants his little brother to feel left out. It turns out I'm right about that, and Chance has a private conversation with Reese that makes him much happier. I don't know what Chance said, but I'm starting to see why Elena loves him. He's one of the nicest people I've ever met. He loves his family, especially his brothers.
Chance might be on my top ten list of nicest people, but Reese isthenicest. He'll always be number one on my roster.
When we get back to the bed-and-breakfast, we're both so exhausted we strip off our clothes, crawl under the covers, and pass out.
In the morning, I get to share a steamy shower with Reese. And I don't mean only that the water is hot enough to make real steam. We generate plenty of that on our own.
Today is the wedding. My best friend, the woman who's like a sister to me, is marrying the love of her life. And I'm in love with her brother-in-law. Or rather, the guy who will become her brother-in-law later today. It all seems kind of like a strange dream, but one that's also so wonderfully perfect.
I watch from the altar in the quaint little church while Elena walks up the aisle. Everyone in attendance is watching her because she's the most beautiful bride anyone could imagine. Her dress is lacy and swishy and makes her look like a princess---not that I've ever met a princess. I glance over at Chance and see him wiping at his eyes like he might cry at the sight of his bride coming toward him, about to vow to love, honor, and cherish him. He'll promise the same thing to Elena, and I know he'll mean it.
Reese is wiping at his eyes too.
Though I never would've pegged him as the sentimental type, I like knowing that he can get emotional when it's appropriate. It makes me love him even more.
And yeah, I'm crying. It's no discreet tearing up, either. Uh-uh, I'm full-on crying with tears running down my cheeks by the time Elena reaches the altar.